IPU statement on the recently adopted Regularization Law in Israel

Geneva, 9 February 2017

Kiryat Arba Jewish settlement on the outskirts of the Palestinian city. ©Hazem Bader/AFP

The IPU President, Saber Chowdhury has expressed his deep disappointment over, and deplored, the adoption by the Israeli Knesset of the Regularization Law on 6 February 2017. The legislation, an affront to the rule of law, will seriously jeopardize ongoing efforts to secure a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Middle East, including the two-state solution that the parties have commited to with the strong support of the international community. It will in fact hinder the chances of establishing a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.

The law effectively authorizes retroactively the establishment of Israeli settlements on private Palestinian land. Such a measure will ultimately lead to heightened instability and insecurity for the entire region and beyond. The IPU President is deeply disturbed by the fact that this legislation is consistent with neither national nor international law as evidenced by UN Security Council resolution 2334.

The IPU President and Secretary General, Martin Chungong, have therefore reached out to, and are consulting with, the Israeli parliamentary authorities, urging the Knesset to reconsider and repeal this legislation in the interest of peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. Such a measure to repeal the law would be in conformity with the rule of law, a key precept of democracy. It would also be consistent with the logic of peace, which is yearned for by all in the region and beyond.

The IPU is premised on the principles of dialogue and cooperation for the resolution of conflict, and has appreciated the ongoing commitment of the Knesset and the Palestinian legislative authorities to its peace projects over the past two years within the framework of IPU’s Committee on Middle East Questions. In the current environment, it is even more important to rededicate to such projects, which are intended to transform potential elements of conflict into factors of peaceful co-existence, through science and technology. The IPU stands ready to play its part in continuing to promote such dialogue in the interest of lasting security, development and prosperity for the people in the region.